As part of the plan to make our training site more informative we thought it would be a good idea to ask the GP trainers to tell us a bit more about them.
Dr Matthew Williams – Training Programme Director @ Denny Cross
“Welcome to the webpage for GP trainees in FV!
“Having studied at St Andrews and Manchester Universities and then spending time working in the north west of England and Brisbane Australia, I decided to start my GP training in Forth Valley. I spent ST1 in Alva and also completed rotations in ED, psych and general medicine before completing my training in Bridge of Allan in 2014. Immediately after completing my training, I took up a partnership at Denny Cross. We became a training practice in 2017 and after enjoying my time with resident doctors, I became the TPD for FV GP residents in 2023.
“I currently job share with my wife working in the practice Mon-Wed with TPD role focused towards the end of the week. I enjoy living in Stirling and all that FV offers for free time as well as travelling abroad as often as possible with our four young kids. I hope you enjoy your time working and training in the FV GP training programme.”
Dr Laura Forsyth @ Bonnybank Medical Practice, Bonnybridge
“I completed GP training in Forth Valley in 2012 and have been a partner at Bonnybank Medical Practice since 2015. We became a training practice in 2021 and I have enjoyed having resident doctors in the practice so much that I have recently completed training to become an educational supervisor. My clinical interests are menopause and diabetes. Outside of work I enjoy baking, crafting and yoga.”
Dr Annabel Shepherd @ Clackmannan & Kincardine Medical Practice
“I am did my GP training in Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West Lothian and worked as a GP locum, a salaried GP and a GP retainer before becoming a four session GP partner at Clackmannan and Kincardine Medical Practice in 2014. The practice is a great place to work because the team are interested in providing good care whilst making sure we have a good work-life balance. I’ve got an interest in learning and I also work as a two session Associate Advisor for GP training. My interests in the practice are consulting skills, team learning, patient experience, palliative care, cardiovascular disease, and woman’s health.”
Dr Anne-Marie Crichton @ Kinneil practice
“My name is Anne-Marie. I have worked in Bo’ness since 1999 and been a trainer since 2010, initially at Forth View Practice which then merged with Kinglass Practice to become Kinneil in October 2023. The practice team are all very enthusiastic about training and we also host foundation residents. It is an exciting place to train because our newly merged model involves working across 2 nearby sites, one involving urgent appointments and triage whilst the other is mainly planned appointments and admin. I love the energy that trainees bring to our practice and the fact that the whole team gets behind the trainees enjoying their time with us. I have particular interests in women’s health, diabetes, palliative care and addictions. Outside of work, I enjoy time with my family, walks with the dog and singing with the Strathcarron hospice choir.”
Dr Roddy Gunn @ Doune Health Centre
“I joined Doune Health Centre in 2019 after 10 years as a GP in Tayside. I thoroughly enjoy the variable and interesting work that General Practice offers and my areas of clinical interest are Diabetes, Paediatrics, Musculoskeletal Medicine and Minor Surgery. There are three partners in the practice, each with differing clinical interests, and we are all involved with medical education and training. We pride ourselves in providing enjoyable, well-supported placements for resident doctors.”
Dr Philip Carter @ Ochilview Practice, Stenhousemuir
“My own clinical areas of interest include dermatology and lifestyle medicine. I do specialty sessions in dermatology in NHS Lothian and also perform minor surgical procedures within the practice. I am keen to support patients to make lifestyle changes that can help management of their chronic conditions. I am also involved with the Forth Valley Greener Practice team looking at how primary care can make changes to have a positive impact on the environment”
Dr Joshua Robinson @ Richmond Practice, Bo’ness
“I am an enthusiastic ES working at The Richmond Practice in Bo’ness. We are a partnership of 8 (soon to be 9) partners with 2 educational supervisors. The practice is very friendly and supportive towards GP residents and is a desirable place to work – indeed many of the current partners were GP trainees here. I have a personal interest in paediatrics and ENT medicine”
Dr Andy Little @ Alva Medical Practice
“Hi, my name is Andy Little and I’m a GP partner and GP trainer based at Alva medical practice where my window looks out onto the magnificent Ochil hills. My areas of interest include palliative medicine, pharmacotherapy and sports/football medicine. Along with our practice team, I immensely enjoy seeing resident doctors come through with our direction, where we have a long history of success in helping to facilitate the development of clinicians’ careers.”
Dr Helen Appleby @ Carronbank, Denny
“Dr Helen Appleby – 7 session partner and GP trainer since 2013. Clinical interest in women’s health and provides implant and coil fitting within the surgery” – Helen is a very keen golfer but didn’t want to boast about her handicap!
Dr Colette Chambers @ Orchard House, Stirling
“Hi my name is Colette, I’ve been a GP trainer for 5 years at Orchard House Health Centre. My area of interest is women’s health and I fit coils/implants within the surgery. In my own time I’m a keen cyclist and hill runner and Stirling is a fantastic base for this, and for my young family.”
Dr David Herron @ Polmont Park Medical Practice
“My name is David and I have been a GP Trainer in our practice since 2011. I hope that we provide resident doctors with a good learning environment and with the right experience to feel confident to finish their training ready for career in General Practice. I have a number of clinical leadership interests outside of the practice including chair of the GP Sub committee and LMC, Clinical Lead GP for Falkirk area, Clinical Lead for GP Protected Learning Time and Cluster Quality Lead for our local 4 practices.”
Dr Suzanne Wood @ Polmont Park Medical Practice
“”My name is Suzanne Wood and I am an Educational Supervisor at Polmont Park Medical Group within Meadowbank Health Centre, Polmont. My areas of interest include Mental Health and Women’s Health and I provide a contraceptive implant fitting and removal service. I enjoy the diversity of General Practice and the teaching of both medical students and GP specialist residents.”
Dr Kevin Lynch @ Orchard House, Stirling
“Hi I’m Kevin Lynch, I’m one of the partners at Orchard House Health Centre in Stirling. I’ve been a doctor since 2001 and a GP since 2005. I worked as a partner in a Hamilton practice for 9 years before coming to Orchard House in 2015. I’ve been a trainer of GPs since around 2016. I work 4 days a week at Orchard House and have a second role as a Forensic Physician with NHS Lothian which sees me covering the police one night a week. Been doing that since 2014. My interests are therefore Forensic Medicine, Medical Law, Medical Education, Diabetes and Hypertension. Outside of work I like to run, walk up hills with my dog, eat well, drink good wine and I have a passion for music and playing my guitar quite badly.”
Dr Julie Reid @ Doune Health Centre
“Hi, I am a Trainer and GP at Doune Health centre. I did my GP training in Aberdeenshire, then worked in Tayside before relocating to Forth Valley. I have been interested in medical education since my Fellowship in Medical Education after CCT and have gained a PostGrad Certificate in this. I organised the Half Day Release Programme in Tayside when I was there and am current Course Organiser for Forth Valley. I am also TPD for Trainee and Exam Support for West of Scotland now. In my practice, I insert coils and implants and have an interest in Family Planning/Women’s Health (although partly by default as I’m the only female GP partner!)”
Dr Greg Moffat @ Tryst Medical Centre, Larbert
“Hi – I’m Greg. I’m a GP partner at Tryst Medical Centre in Larbert. We’re located very close to FVRH and easily commutable from Glasgow or Edinburgh. As a practice we enjoy getting involved in the teaching and training of our future colleagues – hosting undergraduates, foundation doctors and GP trainees. All of our GPs trained in Forth Valley and enjoyed it so much we stayed! We’re a supportive bunch with our doors always open for our team. I’m Dad to three young children and spend most of my free time dealing with them!”
Dr David Reid @ Polmont Park Medical Practice
“My name is David Reid. I completed my GP Training at Polmont Park then became a partner here in 2018. I’ve been a GP trainer since 2024. I enjoy working at the practice, and the variety and diversity of the job. In addition to the practice work, I am an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and supervise medical students at the practice. I’m also a GP appraiser in Forth Valley, and the primary care locality coordinator for the Falkirk East area. Outside of work, I like to take my dog out for walks, visit the lake district, and travel abroad. I’ve also been singing in a choir for thirty years and have a passion for choral music. I enjoy helping to shape resident doctors in to confident, well-rounded, independent general practitioners and our practice has an excellent track record of education.”